A heated confrontation Monday night between Occupy Wall Street protesters and the NYPD was defused through the help of some civil rights star power: Rev. Jesse Jackson.

As described by Animal New York, a "big commotion" broke out minutes before midnight on the south side of Zuccotti Park, as police closed in to remove the green-and-white "medical tent" that functioned as a first-aid station. "Out of nowhere," they write, Jackson "swooped in and spoke face-to-face with the NYPD."

A demonstrator then asked Jackson to join a human chain encircling the endangered tent, and he "immediately agreed," locking arms with them. A few, tense minutes later, the police left to the cheers of the crowd. As of now, the tent still stands.